ROCKFORD — The BMO Harris Bank Center is in the final stretch of a multimillion dollar facelift this week that Rockford IceHogs fans will see at Saturday’s home opener.

A new retractable lower seating bowl is in place, and by reconfiguring the layout the arena has added about 400 seats. But there’s still plenty of electrical work to finish. And plumbing. And flooring.

“It all comes together in the next 72 hours,” said General Manager Gordon Kaye. “On Saturday night, the fans will see the finished product. I think they’re going to like what they see.”

A Blue Flame Lounge with hardwood floors and big-screen TVs will greet fans as they enter the arena and rise up the escalator. Food and beverage stations that line the perimeter of the concourse have been freshened up with new countertops, lighting, kitchen equipment and digital menu boards.

A new point-of-sale system means you can — finally — pay for your food and drinks with a credit card at every concession stand. There are new food options, too, including premium hot dogs, tacos and churros and an Ole Salty’s Gourmet Potato Chip station.

Another signature upgrade is the Bud Select Deck, a bar and lounge — near the souvenir shop — with a white tile floor and decor that gives the look and feel of a hockey rink.

“People want social spaces,” Kaye said. “They don’t always want to get something to eat and go back to sit in their seat. The idea is to create areas where people can eat or have a drink and socialize.”

A state grant is paying for the $1.5 million new seating bowl and other improvements made during the off season that patrons won’t see: a new chiller and locker room renovations. SMG, the arena’s private management firm, is investing $500,000 in the food and beverage improvements.

The Rockford IceHogs finished the 2012-13 season with a franchise record 4,560 average attendance at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Overall, the IceHogs lured 173,292 fans to downtown Rockford, up 7.4 percent from the previous season.

“I think we’re going to be up again this year,” Kaye said.

The additional seating capacity could certainly bolster the arena’s bottom line. Lower-level seats fetch premium ticket prices and arena officials will offer variable pricing this season, charging a ticket premium for high-demand games and ticket discounts and other promotions for lower-demand games.

Andy Rio is already making plans. The co-owner of District Bar & Grill sometimes schedules twice as many wait staff to serve customers before and after IceHogs games on Friday and Saturday nights.

Page 2 of 2 - “The IceHogs are huge for us,” Rio said. “Our staff basically goes from part-time to full-time. The Friday and Saturday night games seem to be the biggest nights of the year for us.”